Why I love working with artists
- Deborah Newman
- 12 minutes ago
- 2 min read
I love discovering artists who inspire me, collecting pieces that speak to my soul, and sharing their brilliance with the world. The new piece I just acquired was painted by Konstantina Konstantinov who normally would paint with her husband Ignat. They were known as The KonKons, Bulgarian-born American artists whose collaborative work is both powerful and deeply moving.
The piece is from the Soul of the Knight collection, was created while Konstantina was battling terminal cancer and is called "Bugeisha", mixed media on canvas. You will see from the history why I had to have this piece.
Historical Background:
Nakano Takeko, aka Bugeisha (1847-1868) was a Japanese female warrior of the Aizu Domain, who fought and died during the Boshin War. She was only 21 years of age when she was leading the Samurai Joshitai (Girl’s Army). Although they were discriminated by their male fellow soldiers, the Shogunate Army count on them to cover the most dangerous spots on the battlefield. In one of these bloody combats, Takeko was deadly wounded and asked her own sister to hide her remains, so the enemies will not be able to claim a victory on her. The place she died became a sacred Shrine for pilgrims from all over the world.”
Through layered surfaces, luminous blues, and fluid human forms, Konstania transforms historical memory into atmospheric visual storytelling and I LOVE IT! Today, Ignat KonKon continues to honor his late wife’s legacy by exhibiting their work in esteemed galleries and sharing her vision with audiences around the world and I get to work with him and his art rep Janice Jones. Lucky me!!
Art deserves to live beyond the artist. That belief is what inspired me to create The Immortal Canvas — a new platform dedicated to preserving the work, stories, and legacies of remarkable artists so their voices never disappear with time.
Through this project, I hope to spotlight visionary creators, honor their journeys, and ensure their art continues to inspire future generations. Some artists leave behind more than paintings or sculptures — they leave behind emotion, history, resilience, and pieces of themselves woven into every work they create.
Stay tuned as The Immortal Canvas begins its journey of celebrating artists whose creativity deserves to live forever.
